416 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
century, it was his turn, along with another of the Royal Chaplains, to officiate.
The latter opened the proceedings with a prayer most elaborately composed for
the occasion. His eloquence attracted notice, and expectation was excited in
regard to the prayer with which the proceedings were to be terminated, and
which fell to be offered by the subject of this sketch, when the reverend gentleman
stood up, and rightly judging that neither the circumstances nor the services
called for anything but the femest and simplest words, with great solemnity
repeated the Lord’s Prayer, to the no small surprise of the audience, some of
whom had the bad taste to term it unsuitable to the occasion,
The death perhaps of no clergyman ever produced a greater sensation in the
neighbourhood where it occurred. It was announced by bills hawked about
the streets of Edinburgh; and the presence of thousands of persons at the
funeral attested the veneration in which their pastor was held. Only one of
Mr. Paul’s sermons was ever published, although some of them have since
appeared in the periodical publications of the day. His venerable widow
survived him till 21st November 1828.
This Print was executed by the artist from recollection, after the reverend
gentleman’s death.
No. CLXIV.
BYRNE, THE IRISH GIANT,
MR. WATSON, MR. M‘GOWAN, MR. FAIRHOLME,
AND
GEORDIE CRANSTOUN.
THIS Print, which is one of the early productions of the artist, represents the
Giant in conversation with Mr. Watson, while Mr. M‘Gowan, Mr. Fairholme,
and Geordie Cranstoun are listening very attentively to what is going on.
Some account of MR. FAIRHOLME, the first figure to the left, will be
found in our notice of “The Connoisseurs.” The likeness here afforded may
not be so accurate or distinct in the outlines as the one in the group alluded to ;
yet the person and attitude are very characteristic of the upright and somewhat
pompous figure of the original.
The next figure presents an equally graphic portraiture of MR. JOHN
M‘GOWAN, who lived for many years in the Luckenbooths, where he occupied
the second and third flats above Creech the bookseller’s shop. He latterly
removed to a house in Princes Street, between Castle and Charlotte Streets,
where he died.
